Crash Report: Fewer Deaths On Minn. Roads In 2010

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- The final crash report for 2010 states there were 411 traffic deaths on Minnesota roads, marking a third consecutive annual drop in road fatalities. That number is also the lowest count on record since 1944 when there were 356 deaths.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety released the final report Tuesday, which also shows motorcyclist deaths are down 15 percent and alcohol-related deaths are the lowest on record.

There were 131 alcohol-related deaths in 2010, compared to 141 in 2009. That marks the lowest since 1984 when the statistic was first measured.

Of the total traffic deaths, 41 were teenager fatalities, 36 were pedestrians, nine were bicyclists and 148 of those who died were belted.

The department cites proactive campaigns, outreach efforts, MnDOT engineering enhancements and improved response from emergency medical and trauma teams for the overall decrease of deaths.

The state's goal is to keep the death toll on Minnesota roads to a maximum of 375 by 2014.